In the Media
41% of India’s forest cover has suffered degradation
February 10, 2012
Times of India
The 12th five year plan related to biodiversity will focus on reclaiming wetlands, inland lakes and ponds, assess coastal biodiversity resources, use and sustainability, implementing recovery plan for identified 16 wildlife species, improve forest production and maintain biodiversity, and target greening five million hectare under Green India Mission, said K Kasturirangan, member, planning commission and former head, Indian Space Research organisation.
Speaking at the national conference on ‘Biodiversity assessment, conservation and utilisation’, organised by the department of biodiversity, Abasaheb Garware College, in association with the BAIF Development Research Foundation, on Thursday, Kasturirangan said some of the suggestions made by the working group constituted for the 12th plan preparation includes providing sufficient resource for relocation of villages from the critical habitats to create inviolate space for all flagship wildlife species, a national action plan for management of invasive species be strengthened and a national action plan on wildlife species recovery for its protection and conservation.
Speaking about biodiversity loss, he pointed out that 1.6 billion people worldwide rely on forests for their livelihood, but an estimated 41% of the country’s forest cover has been degraded to some degree. The rich diversity of medicinal plants (over 6,500 species) in the country needs conservation and sustainable utilisation, as their habitats are either degraded or the species are being over-exploited.
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Keywords: Asia, degradation, forest cover, India, mangroves, wildlife